People, Culture & Change
Wednesday 23 September 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the PPMA Virtual Conference 2026!
Bringing together leading voices from across public sector HR, organisational development and leadership, the conference explored the challenges and opportunities shaping our workplaces.
From workforce transformation and local government reform to emotional intelligence, AI, equality legislation and organisational resilience, the day was packed with valuable insights and practical learning.
Missed a session or want to revisit the discussions?
Explore the conference programme and watch the session recordings below.
Explore the Conference Sessions
Watch the PPMA Virtual Conference 2026
Couldn’t join us on the day? Catch up on the conversations, insights and practical advice shared throughout our 2026 Virtual Conference.
Explore the full collection of session recordings and revisit the topics most relevant to you and your organisation.
Workforce Transformation & The Impact of Local Government Reform (LGR)
Trudy Forster
Deputy Chief Executive, North Yorkshire Council and Vice-President of the PPMA
Following the government’s recent announcement of a comprehensive review and pause on current LGR plans, local authorities face an era of profound structural uncertainty.
In this insightful Masterclass, Trudy shares crucial, practical lessons from North Yorkshire’s own completed reorganisation. Explore how to successfully navigate workforce transformation, culture change, leadership, employee engagement and organisational development — and how to effectively manage people through shifting national policy landscapes to ensure councils continue to effectively serve their communities.
Real Growth, Real Impact – From Application to PPMA National Award:
Julie Biggs
PPMA Talent Programmes and Awards Manager
Standout PPMA Talent Programme and Award winners share their journeys to national recognition. Discover award winning practice in action in this virtual fireside chat. The critical workforce insights they gained, how they navigated the path to success, and how to use their blueprints to drive real impact in your own organisations.
Emotional Intelligence
Managing Wellbeing and Resilience in Times of Change and Challenge
Gayle Hudson
The Staff College
Join Gayle Hudson from The Staff College for an insightful session exploring the power of emotional intelligence in building healthier, more resilient workplaces. In a world of increasing pressure, complexity and constant change, understanding how we recognise, manage and respond to emotions has never been more important.
Discover how emotional intelligence can help you navigate challenging situations, strengthen workplace relationships and support both individual and organisational resilience. This session will explore how greater emotional awareness can help create positive workplace cultures where people feel supported, connected and better equipped to thrive through change.
The Then and The Now: Leading the New Workplace Culture of Human and AI Collaboration
Sam Smith
SOCTIM
Join the Socitm Digital Masterclass with Sam Smith and discover how to navigate the rapid rise of automation and implement the critical ethical guardrails needed when introducing AI to your HR frameworks. This high-impact session reveals the realities of accountability, budgeting, and vital insights into exactly who answers if AI gets it wrong? This session will conclude with a live 10-minute Q&A to answer your key questions.
The EHRC’s Updated 2026 Services Code in Practice
Navigating the Services Code in the Public Sector
Sean Hick
Capsticks
The EHRC’s Updated 2026 EHRC Services Code in Practice – Navigating The Services Code in the Public Sector:
The EHRC’s updated statutory Code of Practice is officially in force, marking the biggest shake-up to equality guidance in 15 years. Join for a high-impact legal breakdown of what the new rules mean for your organisation from Sean Hick, Partner at Capsticks.
For public sector HR and OD leaders, attending this session is essential. Get the vital insights you need to confidently update your internal policies, diversity frameworks, and workplace facilities with an invaluable live 10-minute Q&A to get your compliance questions answered by the experts.
Turning Organisational Complexity into Impact
Leading Through Change: Why Political Astuteness is an Essential Tool for HR and OD
Professor Jean Hartley
Emeritus Professor at the Open Univerity
Join global expert Professor Jean Hartley for a practical masterclass on The 5 Dimensions of Political Astuteness.
Discover how to confidently navigate complex political environments, build strategic influence and drive positive organisational impact, even in highly volatile times.
The Commissioner’s Lens
What Every HR Director Needs to Know About Corporate Failure and Recovery
Pam Parkes
Workforce Lead Commissioner, PPMA Past President and Former Executive Director of People & Transformation at Essex County Council
When a local authority faces severe financial or governance failures, central government intervention changes the rules of engagement overnight. But what actually happens when The Commissioners move in, and how does the Human Resources and Organisational Development (HR&OD) landscape shift under statutory powers?
In this session, Pam Parkes, Workforce Lead Commissioner, PPMA Past President, and Former Executive Director of People & Transformation at Essex County Council, steps behind the headline-grabbing crises to deliver this Masterclass, and the raw realities of council turnarounds. Crucially, drawing directly from her unique vantage point at the epicenter of major interventions, Pam will reveal the hidden workforce red flags every HR Director must spot to “commissioner-proof” their own council before a crisis hits.
Thank You for Joining Us!
A huge thank you to our speakers, contributors and everyone who joined us for the PPMA Virtual Conference 2026.
We hope the discussions sparked new ideas, offered practical insights and inspired fresh thinking to take back into your organisations.
Keep the conversation going by exploring our upcoming PPMA events, webinars and learning opportunities.
EXPLORE UPCOMING PPMA EVENTS
Looking Back
Explore the conversations, insights and ideas from previous PPMA Virtual Conferences.
From workforce transformation and leadership to organisational culture and the future of public sector HR, revisit the discussions that continue to shape our profession.
Explore Previous Conferences
- PPMA Virtual Conference 2025
- PPMA Virtual Conference 2024
- PPMA Virtual Conference 2023
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